Gaming System and a Method of Gaming

ABSTRACT

A method of community gaming comprising determining that a community game is to be conducted for one or more players of a plurality of linked gaming devices collectively offering at least two different base games, assigning to each of the one or more players, at least one of a plurality of assignable aspects of game play in the community game based on which of the at least two base games is played by each of the one or more players, and conducting the community game for said one or more players based on each assigned aspect of game play.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Australian Provisional PatentApplication No. 2011900537 having an International filing date of Feb.17, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[Not Applicable]

MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE

[Not Applicable]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a gaming system and a method of gaming.

Current electronic gaming machines allow a player to place a wager orbet, in return for which a play of a game provided by the gaming machineis conducted. Some gaming machines allow entry into a further game, suchas a community or community game conducted for eligible players of thegaming machines. In this case, the community or community game maycomprise a different game to the base game with different rules.

While such gaming systems provide users with enjoyment, a need existsfor alternative gaming systems to provide users with further enjoyment.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the invention provides a method of community gamingcomprising:

determining that a community game is to be conducted for one or moreplayers of a plurality of linked gaming devices collectively offering atleast two different base games;

assigning to each of the one or more players, at least one of aplurality of assignable aspects of game play in the community game basedon which of the at least two base games is played by each of the one ormore players ; and

conducting the community game for said one or more players based on eachassigned aspect of game play.

In an embodiment, the method comprises determining that the communitygame is to be conducted for a plurality of players.

In an embodiment, the method comprises assigning an aspect of game playspecific to the respective base game played by each respective player.

In an embodiment, the method comprises determining a winning player ofthe community game based on the respective aspects of game play assignedto each of the one or more players.

In an embodiment, the assignable aspects of game comprise different gameplay objectives of the community game.

In an embodiment, the method comprises assigning each of the one or moreplayers to respective ones of two or more participating teams in thecommunity game based on the respective base game played.

In an embodiment, membership of one of the two or more participatingteams in the community game is one aspect of game play that is assigned.

In an embodiment, the method comprises determining a winning team of thecommunity game based on the respective aspects of game play assigned toeach of the two or more participating teams in the community game.

In an embodiment, the method comprises assigning the respective aspectsof game play as different game play objectives of the community game toeach of the two or more participating teams in the community game.

In an embodiment, the method comprises making an award of the communitygame to the winning player of the community game.

In an embodiment, the method comprises making an award of the communitygame to the winning team of the community game.

12. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the awardof the community game comprises a prize and the method comprisesassigning a value of the prize based on the respective base game played.

In an embodiment, the method comprises assigning a probability todetermine the winning team of community game based on a number ofplayers assigned to each of the participating teams.

In an embodiment, the method comprises determining to conduct thecommunity game in response to an initiation condition being met in oneof the base games played.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a community game controllerin communication with a plurality of linked gaming devices collectivelyoffering at least two different base games to be played, the communitygame controller arranged to:

determine to conduct a community game for one or more players of theplurality of linked gaming devices;

assign to each of the one or more players at least one of a plurality ofassignable aspects of game play in the community game based on which ofthe at least two base games is played by each of the one or moreplayers; and

conduct the community game for said one or more players based on eachassigned aspect of game play.

In an embodiment, the community game controller is arranged to determinethat the community game is to be conducted for a plurality of players.

In an embodiment, the community game controller is arranged to assign anaspect of game play specific to the respective base game played by eachrespective player.

In an embodiment, the community game controller is arranged to determinea winning player of the community game based on the respective aspectsof game play assigned to each of the one or more players.

In an embodiment, the assignable aspects of game comprise different gameplay objectives of the community game.

In an embodiment, the community game controller is arranged to assigneach of the one or more players to respective ones of two or moreparticipating teams in the community game based on the respective basegame played.

In an embodiment, membership of one of the two or more participatingteams in the community game is one aspect of game play that is assigned.

In an embodiment, the community game controller is arranged to determinea winning team of the community game based on the respective aspects ofgame play assigned to each of the two or more participating teams in thecommunity game.

In an embodiment, the community game controller is arranged to assignthe respective aspects of game play as different game play objectives ofthe community game to each of the two or more participating teams in thecommunity game.

In an embodiment, the community game controller is arranged to make anaward of the community game to the winning player of the community game.

In an embodiment, the community game controller is arranged to make anaward of the community game to the winning team of the community game.

In an embodiment, the award of the community game comprises a prize andthe game controller assigns a value of the prize based on the respectivebase game played.

In an embodiment, the community game controller is arranged to assign aprobability to determine the winning team of community game based on anumber of players assigned to each of the participating teams.

In an embodiment, the community game controller is arranged to conductthe community game in response to an initiation condition being met inone of the base games played.

In a third aspect, the invention provides a gaming system comprising:

a plurality of linked gaming devices collectively offering at least twodifferent base games to be played; and

a community game controller in communication with a plurality of linkedgaming devices collectively offering at least two different base gamesto be played, the community game controller arranged to:

determine to conduct a community game for one or more players of theplurality of linked gaming devices;

assign to each of the one or more players at least one of a plurality ofassignable aspects of game play in the community game based on which ofthe at least two base games is played by each of the one or moreplayers; and

conduct the community game for said one or more players based on eachassigned aspect of game play.

In fourth aspect, the invention provides a gaming system comprising:

a plurality of linked gaming devices collectively offering at least twodifferent base games to be played; and

means for determining to conduct a community game for one or moreplayers of the plurality of linked gaming devices;

means for determining to conduct a community game for one or moreplayers of the plurality of linked gaming devices;

means for assigning to each of the one or more players, at least one ofa plurality of assignable aspects of game play in the community gamebased on which of the at least two base games is played by each of theone or more players; and

a means for conducting the community game for said one or more players.

In a fifth aspect, the invention provides a gaming system comprising:

a plurality of electronic gaming machines collectively offering at leasttwo different base games to be played, each electronic gaming machinecomprising a cabinet, a display mounted within the cabinet, at least onegame play mechanism mounted to the cabinet operable by a player to inputselections in one of the at least two base games to be played, and abase game controller disposed within the cabinet comprising a processorand a memory storing game control instructions which enable each basegame controller operating in response to operation of a respective atleast one game play mechanism by the player to conduct a base game; and

a community game controller operably connected to the electronic gamingmachines to determine to conduct a community game for one or moreplayers of the plurality of electronic gaming machines and to assign toeach of the one or more players at least one assignable aspect of gameplay in the community game based on which base game is played by each ofthe one or more players, the community game controller comprising aprocessor and a memory storing game rules which when executed cause thecommunity game controller to conduct the community game for said one ormore players based on each assigned aspect of game play.

In a sixth aspect, the invention provides computer program code whichwhen executed implements the above method.

In a seventh aspect, the invention provides a tangible computer readablemedium comprising the above program code.

In an eighth aspect, the invention provides transmitting or receivingthe above program code.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the core components of a gaming system;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a stand alone gaming machine;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the functional components of a gamingmachine;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the functional components of a memory;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a network gaming system;

FIG. 6 is a further block diagram of the core components of a gamingsystem;

FIG. 7 is a further block diagram of the core components of a gamingsystem.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a gaming system including aplurality of linked gaming devices, collectively offering at least twobase games to be played, and a community game controller incommunication with the plurality of linked gaming devices. The communitygame controller being arranged to determine to conduct a community gamefor one or more players of the plurality of linked gaming devices,assign to each of the one or more players at least one aspect of gameplay in the community game based on a base game played by each of theone or more players from the at least two base games which can beplayed, and conduct the community game for said one or more players.

General System Configuration

The gaming system can take a number of different forms. In one formshown in FIG. 1, the core components of a gaming system 40 are shown.The gaming system 40 includes a community game controller 70 arranged toconduct a community game in communication with a plurality of linkedgaming devices 100 a, 100 b, . . . , 100 n, where the communication mayinclude data communication over a network. Persons skilled in the artwill appreciate that the gaming devices are linked in the sense thatthey are connected in a network such that they may participate in thesame community game and that this does not require a direct connectionbetween each device. The community game controller 70 is also arrangedto conduct the community game for players of the respective linkedgaming devices upon a determination that the community game is to beconducted, assign to each of the players an aspect of game play in thecommunity game based on a base game played by the players, and generatean outcome of the community game such as a winning player of thecommunity game.

In the form shown in FIG. 1, each gaming device is individually operableto play the community game and a base game. Each gaming device has arespective base game controller 60 a, 60 b, . . . , 60 n arranged toconduct the base game for each player of the respective gaming devices.In one example, the respective base game controllers 60 a, 60 b, . . . ,60 n are arranged to conduct a plurality of base games which can beselected to be played. Alternatively, each of the respective base gamecontrollers 60 a, 60 b, . . . , 60 n can conduct designated base games.In any case, the community game controller is arranged to assign to eachof the players of the linked gaming devices 100 a, 100 b, . . . , 100 nan aspect of game play based on the base game played.

Also, each gaming device has respective player interfaces 50 a, 50 b, .. . , 50 n, including respective game play mechanisms including one ormore input devices, to allow each player to make an input in both thebase and community games. Each player interface is thus arranged toenable manual interaction between a player and the gaming system 40 andfor this purpose includes the input/output components required for theplayer to enter instructions to play a game and observe game outcomes.In an example, the player interfaces 50 a, 50 b, . . . , 50 n enableplayers to make a selection of a base game from a plurality of basegames which can be played and the community game controller 70subsequently assigns an aspect of game play in the community game to theplayers based on the respective player selected base games.

Furthermore, the community game controller 70 conducts the communitygame and determines a winning player of the community game based on therespective aspects of game play assigned to each of the players. Forexample, a community game is conducted for players to achieve a gameplay objective of winning a race. In an example, the players areassigned to respective ones of two or more participating teams based onthe respective base game played such that the aspect of game playassigned to the player is the team. For example, with reference to FIG.1, Player A of gaming device 100 a played base game A, Player B ofgaming device 100 b played base game B and Player N of gaming device 100b played base game B. In this case, the community game controller 70assigns Player A to Team A and Player B and Player N to Team B, andTeams A and B compete to win the race. The community game controller 70conducts the community game, generates the outcome, and determines thewinning team of the community game.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that these teams mayalso be formed from players of designated linked gaming devices. In anexample, each of the linked gaming devices designated to be played bythe same team are located adjacent each other in a bank.

Gaming Devices

Herein, the term gaming device is used to refer to any device used by aplayer to play a game and specifically includes stand alone gamingmachines and interactive video terminals which implement games in aclient/server architecture.

A gaming device in the form of a stand alone gaming machine 10 isillustrated in FIG. 2. The gaming machine 10 includes a console 12having a display 14 on which are displayed representations of a game 16that can be played by a player. A mid-trim 20 of the gaming machine 10houses a bank of buttons 22 for enabling a player to interact with thegaming machine, in particular during game play. The mid-trim 20 alsohouses a credit input mechanism 24 which in this example includes a coininput chute 24A and a bill collector 24B. Other credit input mechanismsmay also be employed, for example, a card reader for reading a smartcard, debit card or credit card. Other gaming machines may configure forticket in such that they have a ticket reader for reading tickets havinga value and crediting the player based on the face value of the ticker.A player marketing module (not shown) having a reading device may alsobe provided for the purpose of reading a player tracking device, forexample as part of a loyalty program. The player tracking device may bein the form of a card, flash drive or any other portable storage mediumcapable of being read by the reading device. In some embodiments, theplayer marketing module may provide an additional credit mechanism,either by transferring credits to the gaming machine from credits storedon the player tracking device or by transferring credits from a playeraccount in data communication with the player marketing module.

A top box 26 may carry artwork 28, including for example pay tables anddetails of bonus awards and other information or images relating to thegame. Further artwork and/or information may be provided on a frontpanel 29 of the console 12. A coin tray 30 is mounted beneath the frontpanel 29 for dispensing cash payouts from the gaming machine 10.

The display 14 shown in FIG. 2 is in the form of a video display unit,particularly a cathode ray tube screen device. Alternatively, thedisplay 14 may be a liquid crystal display, plasma screen, any othersuitable video display unit, or the visible portion of anelectromechanical device. The top box 26 may also include a display, forexample a video display unit, which may be of the same type as thedisplay 14, or of a different type.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of operative components of a typical gamingmachine which may be the same as or different to the gaming machine ofFIG. 2.

The gaming machine 100 includes a game controller 101 having a processor102 mounted on a circuit board. Instructions and data to controloperation of the processor 102 are stored in a memory 103, which is indata communication with the processor 102. Typically, the gaming machine100 will include both volatile and non-volatile memory and more than oneof each type of memory, with such memories being collectivelyrepresented by the memory 103.

The gaming machine has hardware meters 104 for purposes includingensuring regulatory compliance and monitoring player credit, aninput/output (I/O) interface 105 for communicating with peripheraldevices of the gaming machine 100. The input/output interface 105 and/orthe peripheral devices may be intelligent devices with their own memoryfor storing associated instructions and data for use with theinput/output interface or the peripheral devices. A random numbergenerator module 113 generates random numbers for use by the processor102. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the reference torandom numbers includes pseudo-random numbers.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, a player interface 120 includesperipheral devices that communicate with the game controller 101including one or more displays 106, a touch screen and/or buttons 107(which provide a game play mechanism), a card and/or ticket reader 108,a printer 109, a bill acceptor and/or coin input mechanism 110 and acoin output mechanism 111. Additional hardware may be included as partof the gaming machine 100, or hardware may be omitted as required forthe specific implementation. For example, while buttons or touch screensare typically used in gaming machines to allow a player to place a wagerand initiate a play of a game any input device that enables the playerto input game play instructions may be used. For example, in some gamingmachines a mechanical handle is used to initiate a play of the game.

In addition, the gaming machine 100 may include a communicationsinterface, for example a network card 112. The network card may, forexample, send status information, accounting information or otherinformation to a bonus controller, central controller, server ordatabase and receive data or commands from the bonus controller, centralcontroller, server or database. Furthermore, with reference to FIG. 1,the network card sends and receives information to/from the communitygame controller 70 so that the community game can be conducted for thegaming machine 100. In this case, the information sent includes dataindicative of the base game played by the gaming machine 100 and theinformation received includes community game outcome data to bedisplayed on the display 106.

In embodiments employing a player marketing module, communications overa network may be via player marketing module—i.e. the player marketingmodule may be in data communication with one or more of the abovedevices and communicate with it on behalf of the gaming machine.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the main components of an exemplarymemory 103. The memory 103 includes RAM 103A, EPROM 103B and a massstorage device 103C. The RAM 103A typically temporarily holds programfiles for execution by the processor 102 and related data. The EPROM103B may be a boot ROM device and/or may contain some system or gamerelated code. The mass storage device 103C is typically used to storegame programs, the integrity of which may be verified and/orauthenticated by the processor 102 using protected code from the EPROM103B or elsewhere.

It is also possible for the operative components of the gaming machine100 to be distributed, for example input/output devices106,107,108,109,110,111 to be provided remotely from the game controller101.

FIG. 5 shows a gaming system 200 in accordance with an alternativeembodiment. The gaming system 200 includes a network 201, which forexample may be an Ethernet network. Gaming machines 202, shown arrangedin three banks 203 of two gaming machines 202 in FIG. 5, are connectedto the network 201. The gaming machines 202 provide a player operableinterface and may be the same as the gaming machines 10,100 shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, or may have simplified functionality depending on therequirements for implementing game play. While banks 203 of two gamingmachines are illustrated in FIG. 5, banks of one, three or more gamingmachines are also envisaged.

One or more displays 204 may also be connected to the network 201. Forexample, the displays 204 may be associated with one or more banks 203of gaming machines. The displays 204 may be used to displayrepresentations associated with game play on the gaming machines 202,and/or used to display other representations, for example promotional orinformational material.

In an embodiment, the game server 205 provides a community gamecontroller 70 to conduct a community game, as described, for theplurality of gaming machines and a base game controller to conduct abase game, as described, on the gaming machines.

In a thin client embodiment, the game server 205 implements most or allof the game played by a player using the gaming machine 202, and thegaming machine 202 essentially provides only the player interface. Withthis embodiment, the game server 205 provides the game controller. Thegaming machine will receive player instructions, pass these to the gameserver which will process them and return game play outcomes to thegaming machine for display. In a thin client embodiment, the gamingmachines could be computer terminals, e.g. PCs running software thatprovides a player interface operable using standard computer input andoutput components. Other client/server configurations are possible, andfurther details of a client/server architecture can be found in WO2006/052213 and PCT/SE2006/000559, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference.

A database management server 206 may manage storage of game programs andassociated data for downloading or access by the gaming machines 202 ina database 206A. Typically, if the gaming system enables players toparticipate in a Jackpot game, a Jackpot server 207 will be provided toperform accounting functions for the Jackpot game. A loyalty programserver 212 may also be provided.

Servers are also typically provided to assist in the administration ofthe gaming network 200, including for example a gaming floor managementserver 208, and a licensing server 209 to monitor the use of licensesrelating to particular games. An administrator terminal 210 is providedto allow an administrator to run the network 201 and the devicesconnected to the network.

The gaming system 200 may communicate with other gaming systems, otherlocal networks, for example a corporate network, and/or a wide areanetwork such as the Internet, for example through a firewall 211.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in accordance with knowntechniques, functionality at the server side of the network may bedistributed over a plurality of different computers. For example,elements may be run as a single “engine” on one server or a separateserver may be provided. For example, the game server 205 could run arandom generator engine. Alternatively, a separate random numbergenerator server could be provided. Further, persons skilled in the artwill appreciate that a plurality of game servers could be provided torun different games or a single game server may run a plurality ofdifferent games as required by the terminals.

Further Detail of the Gaming System

Referring now to FIG. 6, the player interface 50 a and the base gamecontroller 60 a of the gaming device 100 a is shown with the base gamecontroller 60 a in data communication with the community game controller70.

In an embodiment, the base game controller 60 a conducts a base game fora player of the gaming device 100 a upon input from the player interface50 a. Components of the player interface 50 a may vary from embodimentto embodiment but will typically include a credit mechanism 52 a toenable a player to input credits and receive payouts, one or moredisplays 54 a, a game play mechanism 56 a including one or more inputdevices that enable a player to input game play instructions (e.g. toplace a wager), and one or more speakers 58 a. The game play mechanism56 a of the player interface 50 a may be in the form of an input devicesuch as a touch screen and/or buttons to input player instructions tothe base game controller 60 a and to the community game controller 70.

The base game controller 60 a is in data communication with the playerinterface 50 a and includes a processor 62 a to process game playinstructions for a base game in accordance with game play rules andoutput game play outcomes to the display 54 a of the gaming device 100a. Typically, the game play rules are stored as program code in a memory64 a as game rules 642 a but can also be hardwired. As described, thegaming device 100 a may offer multiple base games, which are stored inthe game rules 642 a, for player selection using the player interface 50a. The multiple offered base games, base games 1, 2, . . . , N, eachhave corresponding sets of game rules stored in the game rules 642 a foraccess upon player selection. Alternatively, the linked gaming devices100 a, 100 b, . . . , 100 n collectively offer two or more base gamesconducted by the respective base game controllers 60 a, 60 b, . . . , 60c, with each gaming device having the corresponding base game rulesstored in their respective memories. Herein the term “processor” is usedto refer generically to any device that can process game playinstructions in accordance with game play rules and may include: amicroprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logic device or othercomputational device, a general purpose computer (e.g. a PC) or aserver.

The community game controller 70 also includes a processor 72 thatprocesses the game play instructions for a community game in accordancewith game play rules 742 and outputs community game play outcomes to therespective displays of the linked gaming devices 100 a, 100 b, . . . ,100 n. Also, it will be appreciated that community game play rules caneither be stored as program code in a memory 74 of the community gamecontroller 70 as game rules 742 or be hardwired. As described, thecommunity game controller 70 assigns aspects of game play to the playersbased on the respective base games played. The aspects of game play arestored in the game rules 742 and can influence game play of thecommunity game for each of the players including affecting thegeneration of community game outcomes. In an example, the base gameselection affects which team a player is assigned to in the communitygame according to the game rules 742. Furthermore, each team may beassigned team based community game objectives which are also stored inthe game rules 742. For example, the game rules 742 may specify that thecommunity game is a race and each team competes to win the race to bemade an award of the community game. In this case, the community gamecontroller 70 outputs community game play outcomes to the respectivedisplays of the linked gaming devices 100 a, 100 b, . . . , 100 n untila winning team is determined.

In an embodiment, the player operates the game play mechanism 56 a ofthe player interface 50 a to make a selection of a base game from aplurality of base games offered by the gaming device 100 a to be played,and to input game instructions (selected from a plurality of availableinstructions) and a wager to the base game controller 60 a. The inputtedinstructions and wager are then used to initiate play of a selected basegame.

In FIG. 6, the processor 62 a of base game controller 60 a is shownimplementing a number of modules based on program code and data storedin memory 64 a to conduct the selected base game. In an example, theselected base game is a spinning reel type game where the player inputsa wager and instructions to select a number of lines to be played ineach game or each game round of the base game. In the example, symbolsspecified by the symbol data 641 a are stored in memory 64 a and aredisplayed in symbol display positions arranged in columns, generallyrepresenting reels, and the symbols 641 a may include designated symbolsto indicate that a community game is to be initiated (e.g. wildsymbols).

The modules of the processor 62 a include an outcome generator 622 awhich generates outcomes in the base game by employing random numbergenerator 621 a to randomly select symbols from the symbols 641 a tocarry out the base game. The selected symbols are advised to the displaycontroller 624 a which causes them to be displayed on display 54 a atdesignated symbol display positions. The modules implemented by theprocessor 62 a also include an outcome evaluator 623 a arranged toevaluate outcomes generated by the outcome generator 622 a against thosedesignated by the game rules 642 a. For example, in the spinning reeltype game, the outcome evaluator 623 a evaluates whether a designatedwinning combination of symbols has occurred in the base game so that aprize can be awarded to the player of the gaming device 100 a. Thelikelihood of the occurrence of a winning outcome may be designated andstored in the game rules 642 a and accordingly employed by the outcomegenerator 622 a.

In addition, the processor 62 a includes a community game module 624 ato communicate data to the community game controller 70 so that thecommunity game can be conducted for the gaming devices 100 a, 100 b, . .. , 100 n. The community game controller 624 a includes a base gamedeterminer 626 a to communicate the player base game selection, from theplurality of offered base games, to the community game controller 70.The base game determiner 626 a can either determine the base game playedon the gaming device 100 a from the player's selection or cancommunicate the base game designated to be played on the gaming device100 a to the community game controller 70. In the latter case, the basegame determiner 626 a need only communicate the base game once to thecommunity game controller 70.

Also, the community game module 624 a includes an initiation conditiondeterminer 628 a to determine whether a community game is to beinitiated based on the occurrence of a community game initiation outcomeoccurring in the base game (e.g. the occurrence of designated wildsymbols), and to communicate this determination to the community gamecontroller 70. In addition, it is envisaged that the initiationcondition determiner 628 a can determine whether a community game is tobe conducted based on some other criteria such as time elapsed. Thecommunity game controller 72 then determines to conduct a community gamebased on the received determination data from one of the plurality oflinked gaming devices 100 a, 100 b, . . . , 100 n in communication withthe community game controller 70.

In another example, the community game controller 70 determines toconduct a community game based on criteria stored in the game rules 742,such as time elapsed or an amount wagered by the plurality of linkedgaming devices 100 a, 100 b, . . . , 100 n. In the latter case, thecommunity game controller 70 receives wagering information from theinitiation condition determiner 628 to determine to conduct thecommunity game. In a further example, the community game may beinitiated according to a designated time duration expiring betweensuccessive conducted community games or a designated value ofcontributions made by the players to a prize (e.g. one or moreprogressive jackpots). In addition, the community game controller 70 candetermine to conduct a community game for all players playing the samedesignated base game (e.g. players of base game A from offered basegames A to B). Alternatively, the initiation condition determiner 628 adetermines that a community game initiation event has occurred in theselect base game A, which is communicated to the community gamecontroller 70 so that all players of the linked gaming devices 100 a,110 b, . . . , 100 n playing base game A can participate in thecommunity game. In any event, it will be appreciated by those personsskilled in the art that other initiation criteria may be employed by thecommunity game controller 70, such as initiating the community game at aparticular time of day. For example, various eligibility criteria, suchas wager amount or type, designated time between community gameinitiations, etc., can be stored in the game rules 742 and appliedselectively.

As described, each linked gaming device 100 a, 100 b, . . . , 100 n isindividually operable to play a plurality of base games and thecommunity game. Upon determining that the community game is to beconducted by the community game controller 70, a community game assignor722, implemented by the processor 72, assigns aspects of game play tothe players of the linked gaming devices 100 a, 100 b, . . . , 100 n.

In an embodiment, the community game assignor 722 assigns each of theplayers of the linked gaming devices 100 a, 100 b, . . . , 100 n toteams participating in the community game according to the game rules742 based on player base game selection. For example, if there are fourdifferent base games that can be played by each of the linked gamingdevices, the game rules 742 specify that players of base games A and Bare assigned to Team A and players of base games C and D are assigned toTeam B. It will be appreciated by those persons skilled in the art thata team may consist of one assigned player.

In addition, the same or different game play objectives may be assignedas an aspect of play. For example, the teams are assigned a differentamount of credits to accrue in the community game (e.g. 1000 credits in10 free spins of a spinning reel game) before being made an award of thecommunity game. It will also be appreciated by those persons skilled inthe art that such an objective could be displayed to the players as arace where each team attempts to reach the assigned value of creditsfirst. Also, the award of the community game could be made out to allteams achieving their assigned objective, or a portion thereof. Forexample, all teams reaching the assigned value of credits in adesignated time period may be made an award of the community game or thefirst time may be made an award of larger value than the second team toreach their assigned value of credits.

Upon assigning aspects of game play to the players of the linked gamingdevices 100 a, 100 b, . . . , 100 n, a community game outcome generator724, implemented by the processor 72, generates a community game outcomebased on the respective assigned aspects of game play stored as gamerules 742. For example, the community game outcome generator 724 mayemploy a random number generator in association with the game rules 742to select a team to win the community game. Alternatively, the communitygame assignor 722 may assign different game play objectivescorresponding to the probability of winning the community game to eachof the teams participating in the community game based on the game rules742.

In one example, the community game assignor 722 assigns a probability ofa team winning the community game based on the number of playersassigned to that team. In a further example, the community game assignor722 assigns a different value of prize for each team of the communitygame based on the game rules 742. In this case, the game rules 742 mayspecify that a different value of prize is assigned based on the numberof players assigned to the respective teams or the base game played.Another game rule may specify the portions of the prize to be splitamongst each player of the winning team. This may be split evenly orbased on some other game rule, such as the player triggering thecommunity game receiving a larger portion of the prize.

The processor 72 may also include a community game outcome determiner(not shown) to determine an outcome of the community game based onreceived information from the plurality of linked gaming devices 100 a,100 b, . . . , 100 n. In the spinning reel type community game, thecommunity game controller 70 determines the team that has collectivelyaccruing a designated value of credits. In this example, the designatedvalue of contributions is stored in the game rules 742.

It will be appreciated by those persons skilled in the art that theaward may comprise a prize or a jackpot (e.g. a progressive jackpot), ormay comprise an award not having a credit value, such as a number offree spins in a base game or a further community game trigger. In thecase where the award is a progressive jackpot, the processor 62 a alsoimplements a contribution module (not shown) arranged to contribute adesignated portion of a wager inputted in the base game to theprogressive jackpot and to communicate the value of the contributions tothe community game controller 70 to affect the generated outcome of thecommunity game.

A method 700 of community gaming is summarised in FIG. 7 and involvesthe steps of determining 710 to conduct a community game for one or moreplayers of a plurality of linked gaming devices, assigning 720 to eachof the one or more players at least one aspect of game play in thecommunity game based on a base game played by each of the one or moreplayers from a plurality of base games which can be played, andconducting 730 the community game for the one or more players.

Further aspects of the method will be apparent from the abovedescription of the system. It will be appreciated that at least part ofthe method will be implemented digitally by a processor. Persons skilledin the art will also appreciate that the method could be embodied inprogram code. The program code could be supplied in a number of ways,for example on a tangible computer readable storage medium, such as adisc or a memory (for example, that could replace part of memory 103) oras a data signal (for example, by transmitting it from a server).Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that program code provides aseries of instructions executable by the processor.

It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the inventionthat many modifications may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention, in particular it will be apparent thatcertain features of embodiments of the invention can be employed to formfurther embodiments.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art is referred to herein,such reference does not constitute an admission that the prior art formsa part of the common general knowledge in the art in any country.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of theinvention, except where the context requires otherwise due to expresslanguage or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variationssuch as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e.to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude thepresence or addition of further features in various embodiments of theinvention.

1. A method of community gaming comprising: determining that a communitygame is to be conducted for one or more players of a plurality of linkedgaming devices collectively offering at least two different base games;assigning to each of the one or more players, at least one of aplurality of assignable aspects of game play in the community game basedon which of the at least two base games is played by each of the one ormore players; and conducting the community game for said one or moreplayers based on each assigned aspect of game play.
 2. A method asclaimed in claim 1, comprising determining that the community game is tobe conducted for a plurality of players.
 3. A method as claimed in claim1, comprising assigning an aspect of game play specific to therespective base game played by each respective player.
 4. A method asclaimed in claim 1, further comprising determining a winning player ofthe community game based on the respective aspects of game play assignedto each of the one or more players.
 5. A method as claimed in claim 1,wherein the assignable aspects of game comprise different game playobjectives of the community game.
 6. A method as claimed in claim 1,comprising assigning each of the one or more players to respective onesof two or more participating teams in the community game based on therespective base game played.
 7. A method as claimed in claim 6, whereinmembership of one of the two or more participating teams in thecommunity game is one aspect of game play that is assigned.
 8. A methodas claimed in claim 6, further comprising determining a winning team ofthe community game based on the respective aspects of game play assignedto each of the two or more participating teams in the community game. 9.A method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising assigning therespective aspects of game play as different game play objectives of thecommunity game to each of the two or more participating teams in thecommunity game.
 10. A method as claimed in claim 4, further comprisingmaking an award of the community game to the winning player of thecommunity game.
 11. A method as claimed in claim 8, further comprisingmaking an award of the community game to the winning team of thecommunity game.
 12. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the award ofthe community game comprises a prize and the method comprises assigninga value of the prize based on the respective base game played.
 13. Amethod as claimed in claim 8, further comprising assigning a probabilityto determine the winning team of community game based on a number ofplayers assigned to each of the participating teams.
 14. A method asclaimed in claim 1, comprising determining to conduct the community gamein response to an initiation condition being met in one of the basegames played.
 15. A community game controller in communication with aplurality of linked gaming devices collectively offering at least twodifferent base games to be played, the community game controllerarranged to: determine to conduct a community game for one or moreplayers of the plurality of linked gaming devices; assign to each of theone or more players at least one of a plurality of assignable aspects ofgame play in the community game based on which of the at least two basegames is played by each of the one or more players; and conduct thecommunity game for said one or more players based on each assignedaspect of game play.
 16. A community game controller as claimed in claim15, arranged to determine that the community game is to be conducted fora plurality of players.
 17. A community game controller as claimed inclaim 15, arranged to assign an aspect of game play specific to therespective base game played by each respective player.
 18. A communitygame controller as claimed in claim 15, arranged to determine a winningplayer of the community game based on the respective aspects of gameplay assigned to each of the one or more players.
 19. A community gamecontroller as claimed in claim 15, wherein the assignable aspects ofgame comprise different game play objectives of the community game. 20.A community game controller as claimed in claim 15, arranged to assigneach of the one or more players to respective ones of two or moreparticipating teams in the community game based on the respective basegame played.
 21. A community game controller as claimed in claim 20,wherein membership of one of the two or more participating teams in thecommunity game is one aspect of game play that is assigned.
 22. Acommunity game controller as claimed in claim 20, arranged to determinea winning team of the community game based on the respective aspects ofgame play assigned to each of the two or more participating teams in thecommunity game.
 23. A community game controller as claimed in claim 20,arranged to assign the respective aspects of game play as different gameplay objectives of the community game to each of the two or moreparticipating teams in the community game.
 24. A community gamecontroller as claimed in claim 18, arranged to make an award of thecommunity game to the winning player of the community game.
 25. Acommunity game controller as claimed in claim 22, arranged to make anaward of the community game to the winning team of the community game.26. A community game controller as claimed in claim 15, wherein theaward of the community game comprises a prize and the game controllerassigns a value of the prize based on the respective base game played.27. A community game controller as claimed in claim 22, arranged toassign a probability to determine the winning team of community gamebased on a number of players assigned to each of the participatingteams.
 28. A community game controller as claimed in claim 15, arrangedto conduct the community game in response to an initiation conditionbeing met in one of the base games played.
 29. A gaming systemcomprising: a plurality of linked gaming devices collectively offeringat least two different base games to be played; and a community gamecontroller in communication with a plurality of linked gaming devicescollectively offering at least two different base games to be played,the community game controller arranged to: determine to conduct acommunity game for one or more players of the plurality of linked gamingdevices; assign to each of the one or more players at least one of aplurality of assignable aspects of game play in the community game basedon which of the at least two base games is played by each of the one ormore players; and conduct the community game for said one or moreplayers based on each assigned aspect of game play.
 30. A gaming systemcomprising: a plurality of linked gaming devices collectively offeringat least two different base games to be played; and means fordetermining to conduct a community game for one or more players of theplurality of linked gaming devices; means for determining to conduct acommunity game for one or more players of the plurality of linked gamingdevices; means for assigning to each of the one or more players, atleast one of a plurality of assignable aspects of game play in thecommunity game based on which of the at least two base games is playedby each of the one or more players; and a means for conducting thecommunity game for said one or more players.
 31. A gaming systemcomprising: a plurality of electronic gaming machines collectivelyoffering at least two different base games to be played, each electronicgaming machine comprising a cabinet, a display mounted within thecabinet, at least one game play mechanism mounted to the cabinetoperable by a player to input selections in one of the at least two basegames to be played, and a base game controller disposed within thecabinet comprising a processor and a memory storing game controlinstructions which enable each base game controller operating inresponse to operation of a respective at least one game play mechanismby the player to conduct a base game; and a community game controlleroperably connected to the electronic gaming machines to determine toconduct a community game for one or more players of the plurality ofelectronic gaming machines and to assign to each of the one or moreplayers at least one assignable aspect of game play in the communitygame based on which base game is played by each of the one or moreplayers, the community game controller comprising a processor and amemory storing game rules which when executed cause the community gamecontroller to conduct the community game for said one or more playersbased on each assigned aspect of game play.
 32. A method as claimed inclaim 1, and further comprising executing computer program code toimplement said determining, assigning and conducting.
 33. A method asclaimed in claim 32, further comprising storing said computer programcode in a tangible computer readable medium.